Causal association between periodontitis and oral cancer: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study

Abstract Objectives Reports suggest an association between periodontitis and oral cancer. Therefore, this study used a Mendelian randomisation analysis to investigate whether a causal relationship exists between periodontitis and oral cancer and whether periodontitis is a reliable early indicator of...

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Main Authors: Ting Xiao, Ge Hu, Tian Li, Xiao Zhu, Hui Wang, Zhenhua Zhu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-05-01
Series:Discover Oncology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-02528-w
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author Ting Xiao
Ge Hu
Tian Li
Xiao Zhu
Hui Wang
Zhenhua Zhu
author_facet Ting Xiao
Ge Hu
Tian Li
Xiao Zhu
Hui Wang
Zhenhua Zhu
author_sort Ting Xiao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objectives Reports suggest an association between periodontitis and oral cancer. Therefore, this study used a Mendelian randomisation analysis to investigate whether a causal relationship exists between periodontitis and oral cancer and whether periodontitis is a reliable early indicator of oral cancer. Methods Publicly available genome-wide association study data of a European population were used to perform a two-sample, two-way Mendelian randomisation (MR) analysis primarily via inverse variance weighting (IVW). Complementary methods were used to detect and correct the effects of horizontal pleiotropy. Results Acute periodontitis (IVW [odds ratio (OR) = 0.999, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.999–1.000, P = 0.972]; MR-Egger [OR = 1.000, 95% CI = 0.999–1.000, P = 0.843]; and weighted median [OR = 1.000, 95%CI = 0.999–1.000, P = 0.947]) and chronic periodontitis (IVW [OR = 0.999, 95% CI = 0.999 –1.000, P = 0.725; MR-Egger [OR = 1.000, 95% CI = 0.998–1.000, P = 0.245); and weighted median [OR = 1.000, 95% CI = 0.999–1.000, P = 0.834]) did not affect oral cancer. Conclusions Our MR analysis did not support a causal relationship between periodontitis and oral cancer. Preventing and treating acute or chronic periodontitis may not reduce the oral cancer risk, and the advantages of screening patients for periodontitis for early cancer detection are limited, which may provide assistance in reducing clinical inputs. This study bears some limitations including inapplicable method if the relationship is non-linear. Analyzing statistical data in a database stratified by sex or age is difficult, potentially leading to biased results.
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spelling doaj-art-a36aed7b682c44c797d2bf39df37294c2025-08-20T03:16:32ZengSpringerDiscover Oncology2730-60112025-05-0116111410.1007/s12672-025-02528-wCausal association between periodontitis and oral cancer: a two-sample Mendelian randomization studyTing Xiao0Ge Hu1Tian Li2Xiao Zhu3Hui Wang4Zhenhua Zhu5Department of ENT, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese MedicineDepartment of ENT, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese MedicineTianjin Key Laboratory of Acute Abdomen Disease-Associated Organ Injury and ITCWM Repair, Institute of Integrative Medicine of Acute Abdominal Diseases, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Tianjin Medical UniversityDepartment of ENT, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese MedicineHunan University of Chinese MedicineDepartment of ENT, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese MedicineAbstract Objectives Reports suggest an association between periodontitis and oral cancer. Therefore, this study used a Mendelian randomisation analysis to investigate whether a causal relationship exists between periodontitis and oral cancer and whether periodontitis is a reliable early indicator of oral cancer. Methods Publicly available genome-wide association study data of a European population were used to perform a two-sample, two-way Mendelian randomisation (MR) analysis primarily via inverse variance weighting (IVW). Complementary methods were used to detect and correct the effects of horizontal pleiotropy. Results Acute periodontitis (IVW [odds ratio (OR) = 0.999, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.999–1.000, P = 0.972]; MR-Egger [OR = 1.000, 95% CI = 0.999–1.000, P = 0.843]; and weighted median [OR = 1.000, 95%CI = 0.999–1.000, P = 0.947]) and chronic periodontitis (IVW [OR = 0.999, 95% CI = 0.999 –1.000, P = 0.725; MR-Egger [OR = 1.000, 95% CI = 0.998–1.000, P = 0.245); and weighted median [OR = 1.000, 95% CI = 0.999–1.000, P = 0.834]) did not affect oral cancer. Conclusions Our MR analysis did not support a causal relationship between periodontitis and oral cancer. Preventing and treating acute or chronic periodontitis may not reduce the oral cancer risk, and the advantages of screening patients for periodontitis for early cancer detection are limited, which may provide assistance in reducing clinical inputs. This study bears some limitations including inapplicable method if the relationship is non-linear. Analyzing statistical data in a database stratified by sex or age is difficult, potentially leading to biased results.https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-02528-wPeriodontitisOral cancerMendelian randomisationGenome-wide association study
spellingShingle Ting Xiao
Ge Hu
Tian Li
Xiao Zhu
Hui Wang
Zhenhua Zhu
Causal association between periodontitis and oral cancer: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Discover Oncology
Periodontitis
Oral cancer
Mendelian randomisation
Genome-wide association study
title Causal association between periodontitis and oral cancer: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study
title_full Causal association between periodontitis and oral cancer: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study
title_fullStr Causal association between periodontitis and oral cancer: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study
title_full_unstemmed Causal association between periodontitis and oral cancer: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study
title_short Causal association between periodontitis and oral cancer: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study
title_sort causal association between periodontitis and oral cancer a two sample mendelian randomization study
topic Periodontitis
Oral cancer
Mendelian randomisation
Genome-wide association study
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-02528-w
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